Leica IIIC black ?

[David Hughes]

Were there any clones made like this ... ex. Zorki ?

Like this?

It's a late 1954 FED but I guess done fairly recently. The logo with white paint would have been a nice touch but I can't complain...

Regards, David

 

[dxq.canada]

Nice looking FED.


Erik, I will have a better idea about the colour in about a week ... and will check the paint job for signs of repaint.
Maybe this was put together from various bodies ?


For the military grey model ... how grey is it vs black ... will the vulcanite covering also be grey?


Hmm, I wonder if Shinichi Nakamura's book has one of these ?

 

[Erik van Straten]

For the military grey model ... how grey is it vs black ... will the vulcanite covering also be grey?

Yes, the vulcanite covering is also grey, but it is gray painted, the vulcanite itself is not grey. Only grey IIIc's in good condition show this grey painted vulcanite clearly.

Erik.

 

[Dralowid]

I wonder if there was ever a slow speed knob on this camera.

Erik.

You can see the vertical bar that controls the slow speeds so yes, it may or should have one. Regarding the knobs I was told that if you strip the chrome off chrome ones you can come to layer of nickel before you get to the brass. It's a possibility.

Looks black to me and crate construction looks IIIc.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes, the chrome plating was over nickel

 

[dxq.canada]

This is becoming a very mysterious camera!!

 

[dxq.canada]

I got the package early ... and sadly, it is just repainted IIIC ... and definitely not a factory repaint.


I think the previous owner tried to make their own special black Leica ... though I am not sure if the black paint has been applied directly over the chrome, hmmm.

 

[Dralowid]

Post some pictures anyway, it will be of interest!

 

[dxq.canada]

Ok, I will assemble it for show.

 

[dxq.canada]

Leica IIIC by Dennis, on Flickr



Leica IIIC by Dennis, on Flickr

 

[Dralowid]

So...it begs the question, what to do with it?

If it were me, I'd do nothing until I was able to collect the missing bits. From the pictures I'd say two round bezels, the rangefinder lens (that is a fine wedge), the rewind lever, screws for the lens mount etc etc...don't know what is absent within. Curtains and ribbons?

Sacrilige possibly but I wonder how much of this you could get from scrapping a Fed?

Having done that it would time to strip the black paint and decide which way to go. This shouldn't be too hard on the metal components but a little experimentation with paint stripper and vulcanite might be needed. Alternatively just recover it.

After an age of parts hunting and re-assembly you'd have something that in reality wasn't worth the effort BUT it would indeed be a satisfying project!

The knobs are chrome.

 

[Erik van Straten]

When you can find the missing parts from a wreck it could become a nice user. Black cameras are nicer to use because they are more discreet.


Erik.

 

[dxq.canada]

I have the rewind lever, screws for the lens mount, the viewfinder lens is cracked but still usable as the window is smaller than it, some screws missing in various places.
It is just brass under the black paint.

Both shutter curtains have to be replaced.


Hmm, interesting point you brought up about using FED parts ... I wonder how much of it is compatible ?

 

[dxq.canada]

Hmm, if I remove the black paint ... this will have a brass top and bottom ... hmm, too shiny ?

 

[Dralowid]

On reflection I think a Fed would be more useful for parts for a II or III, the IIIc is, as you know, significantly different. Anyway you have more bits that I thought.

I think shiny brass is a bad idea. What I meant was to strip it and then repaint in your colour of choice which might well be a black or greyish colour (though pink would make an interesting change). The finishes that are not high gloss are often much more resistant to wear and can look better.

 

[David Hughes]

Several technicians sell parts from wrecks. I'd approach them first and look on ebay for a wreck...


Regards, David